Body engageable member for tape dispenser and cutter therefor



March 17, 1964 E. ENGLISH, JR 3,125,264

BODY ENGAGEABLE MEMBER FOR TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER THEREFOR Filed Nov.7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ali-i INV EN TOR.

EDGAR ENGLlSH, JR.

March 17, 1964 E. ENGLISH, JR

BODY ENGAGEABLE MEMBER FOR TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER THEREFOR Filed Nov.7/1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV MOR. EDGAR ENGLISH, JR.

United States Patent 3,125,264 BODY ENGAGEABLE MEMBER FGR TAPE DISPENSERAND {IUTTER TEEREFGR Edgar English, Jan, Edwards, Caiif. Filed Nov. 7,1961, Ser. No. 158,925 7 Qlaims. (Cl. 22578) The present inventionconsists of a combination onehand-operable dispenser and cutting devicefor tape which is normally in spirally rolled form mounted on acentrally apertured core, said dispenser and cutting device beingadapted to be removably but firmly mounted on a body-encircling belt forone-handed operation by a wearer of the belt and being adapted to bedismounted from the body-encircling belt for use as a two-hand-operabledispenser and cutting device for tape, when desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser andcutting device of the type generally described above, including abifurcated holder means havingfirst and second spaced side memberseffectively provided with spindle means adapted to removably receive androtatably support the centrally apertured core of a quantity of tape inspirally rolled form, with said holder means being provided withsevering blade means positioned exteriorly peripherally adjacent to anouter layer of the spirally wound tape for exterior severing engagementtherewith as a selected length of the free end of said tape is pulledoutwardly away from the remainder of the spirally wound roll of tapeagainst said severing blade means, and with said holder means beingprovided with fastening means adapted to rigidly fasten it to abody-encircling belt, or the like, adapted to be worn by a user of thecombination tape dispenser and cutting device in a position for one-handtape dispensing and cutting operation thereof.

It is a further object to provide a tape dispenser and cutting device ofthe type referred to above, wherein the fastening means for rigidlyfastening the holder means to the body-encircling belt, or the like,includes mounting means projecting transversely from the holder meansand a first engaging element removably cooperable with a sec ond.engaging-element rigidly fastened to the body-encircling belt, or thelike, and lockable and unlockable with respect to said second engagingelement. It is a further objectto provide a dispenser and cutting deviceof the type set forth above, wherein the holder means is selectivelyextendable and retractable and is lockable in any extended or retractedposition whereby to receive and effectively rollablymountdifferent-sized spirally wound rolls of tape within the range ofextension and retraction of the holder means. i

It is a further object toprovide a tape dispenser and cutting deviceofthe character set forth in any of the pre-' ceding objects, which isadapted for easy one-handed operation when mounted with respect to abody-encircling belt, or the like, and adapted for easy two-handedoperation when removed therefrom and which is of extremely simple, cheapfoolproof construction such as to facilitate widespread use thereof.

Further objects will be apparentto persons skilled in the art after acareful study hereof.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, oneexemplary embodiment is illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figuresof the accompanying-two sheets .of drawings, and is described in detailhereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary form of thepresentinvention when disengaged from a body-encircling belt, or thelike,.and shows the apparatus in a form adapted for two-handedoperation.

I FIG. 2 isa fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction ofthearrows 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the device.

3,125,264 Patented Mar. 1'7, 1964 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewshowing the severing or shearing blade and is taken in the direction ofthe arrows 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the invention illustrating theadjustable holder means adapted to hold various different size spirallywound rolls of tape. The holder means is shown in one extended positionin solid lines adapted to carry a roll of tape shown in solid lines andis shown in a further extended position in broken lines adapted tosupport a larger diameter roll of tape, also shown in broken lines.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one element of fastening ormounting means adapted to removably fasten the device to abody-encircling belt, or the like, in a rigid manner for one-handoperation.

FIG. 7 is a smaller-scale view of the engaging element of the fasteningmeans shown in FIG. 6, but shows the rigid mounting thereof on afragment of a body-encircling belt adapted to be worn around a humantorso and also shows the engaging element with its locking means inunlocked open position adapted for the reception of the other engagingelement of the fastening or mounting means shown at the left end of theremovable portion of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 andshown at the right end thereof in FIG. 8 in engaged position within theengaging element illustrated individually in FIGS. 6 and 7.

- FIG. 8 shows the removable portion of the device illustrated in FIGS.1-5 after rigid locked engagement thereof with respect to the engagingelement shown individually in FIGS. 6 and 7, whereby to rigidly lock thetape dispenser and cutter on the body-encircling belt for onehandedoperation.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of thearrows 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first or male engagingelement of the fastening or mounting means taken in the direction of thearrows lil-li) of FIG. 5.

The specific embodiment of the invention illustrated includes abifucated substantially U-shaped holder means, one form of which isindicated generally at 20, including a first side member 21 and a secondside member 22 substantially parallel to and laterally spaced from thefirst side member 21, and an interconnecting member 23, with said firstand second side members indicated generally at 21 and 22 being providedwith corresponding extension portions 24 and 25, respectively, slidablyor telescopicaliy engaged with respect to the corresponding first andsecond side members 21 and 22 for selectable extension and retractionwith respect thereto tovary the effective radial distance between theinterconnecting member 23 and the spindle means indicated generally at26 and comprising the two inwardly directed studs 27 and 23 carriedininwardly directed opposed positions by the corresponding extensionportions 24 and 25, respectively, to make it possible to effectivelymount on the spindle means, comprising the studs 27 and 28, the centralaperture 29 in the core 3%) of a spirally wound or rolled tape, such asindicated generally at 31, which may be of various effective outsidediameters. In the specific example illustrated, the slidable ortelescopic engagement-of the extension portions 24 and 25 with respectto the side members 21 and 22 is accomplished by means of longitudinalslots 32 and 33 carried respectively by the extension members 24 and 25and slidably cooperable with outwardly transversely directed retainingpin means 34 and respectively. It should be noted that the retaining 35actually comprises a rivet having outer and inner heads 36 and 37 whilethe retaining pin 34 comprises a screw having an inner head 38 andhaving a threaded outer portion 39 threadedly engaged by a manuallythreadedly advanceable and retractable locking wing nut 40, whereby thewing nut 45 may be loosened to allow the twin extension portions 24 and25 to be extended or retracted to any desired position with respect tothe side members 21 and 22 and also to allow the spindle means 26comprising the opposed studs 27 and 28 to be engaged within the aperture29 and the core 30, after which the wing nut 40 may be tightened intofirm frictional engagement against the outer surface of the extensionportion 24, which will lock the holder means in the desired positionsupporting the roll of tape 31.

In the specific example illustrated, the forward end of theinterconnecting member 23 is provided with severing blade means,indicated generally at 41, and comprising a serrated multi-toothedsevering blade 42 fastened by suitable fastening clamp means 43 to theforward end 44 of the front extension of the interconnecting member 23,with the serrated multi-toothed severing blade 42 being positionedexteriorly peripherally adjacent to an outer layer of the spirally woundtape indicated generally at 31 whereby a free end portion 45 thereof maybe pulled outwardly away from the roll of tape 31 against the severingblade 42 whereby to effectively cut off any desired length of said freeend of the tape 45 after it has initially been extended to any desireddistance.

In the specific example illustrated, the holder means, indicatedgenerally at 20, is provided with fastening or mounting means comprisinga rear extension 46 having a first engaging element indicated generallyat 47. Said fastening or mounting means also includes a second engagingor fastening element indicated generally at 48 (best seen in FIGS. 6 and7) adapted to be rigidly fastened by suitable fastening rivets or thelike 49 to a body-encircling belt, a fragment of which is shown at 50 inFIGS. 7 and 8. It should be noted that the second engaging element,indicated generally at 48, includes a member 51 defining a receivingchamber in dicated generally at 52 having a front opening 53 adapted tobe closed by a closure member 54, which is slidably and pivotallymounted by rivet means 55 and which has a locking slot 56 at its lowerend lockably engageable with a projecting lower rivet 57 whereby saidclosure member 54 may be moved from the unlocked open position shown inFIG. 7 into the locked closed position shown in FIG. 6 after the taperedfront edge 58 of the first engaging element 47 has been slidably enteredthrough the opening 53 into the interior chamber 52 within the secondengaging element, indicated generally at 48, whereby to solidly andrigidly lock the tapered first engaging element 47 within the secondengaging element 48, thus rigidly and firmly locking the entire holdermeans and the roll of tape 31 carried thereby to the body-encirclingbelt 50, as is clearly shown in FIG. 8 and in a manner such that thefree end 45 of the roll of tape 31 can be grasped with one hand by awearer of the belt 50 and can be extended to any desired length and thenpulled upwardly against the severing blade 42 and easily severed-thisentire operation being done with one hand only, thus leaving the otherhand free for various other purposes. This is particularly important forelectricians, telephone line repairmen, and the like, since the otherhand will normally be required for tool holding or support purposes.

It should be clearly noted that the fastening means, comprising thefirst and second engaging elements indicated generally at 47 and 48, areexemplary only and may be modified substantially within the spirit andscope of the present invention. This is also true of certain otherspecific structural details. Furthermore, it should be noted that, whilethe preferred form of the present invention is of molded plasticconstruction exclusive of the retaining pins 34 and 35, the fasteningnut 40, the severing blade means 41, and the second engaging ele- 4 ment48, the invention is not so limited but may be made of various materialssuitable for the functional purposes of the various parts of theinvention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A combination dispenser and cutting device for tape in spirallyrolled form adapted to be removably and firmly mounted on abody-engageable member for onehanded operation by a wearer thereof,comprising: a bifurcated substantially U-shaped holder means including afirst side member, a second side member substantially parallel to andlaterally spaced from said first side member and an interconnectingmeans connecting the adjacent upper ends of said first and second sidemembers, said holder means having laterally spaced lower ends at leastone of which is provided with spindle means adapted to receive androtatively carry therearound a centrally apertured core of a spirallywound roll of tape, said interconnecting means being provided withsevering blade means positioned exteriorly peripherally adjacent to anouter layer of the spirally wound tape carried by the centrallyapertured core for exterior severing engagement therewith as a selectedlength of said tape is pulled outwardly away from the remainder of thespirally wound roll of tape against said severing blade means; saidholder means being provided with mounting and fastening means forrigidly fastening it to a body-engageable member adapted to be worn by auser of the combination tape dispenser and cutting device in a positionfor one-handed tape dispensing and cutting operation thereof; saidholder means being extendable and retractable whereby to receive betweensaid laterally spaced side members said spirally wound roll of tapewhich may be of various desired size within the range of extension andretraction of said holder means.

2. A device of the character defined in claim 1, including operablelocking means for locking the holder means in any selected extended orretracted position.

3'. A device of the character defined in claim 1, including operablethreaded locking means for locking at least one of the side members ofthe holder means in any selected extended or retracted position.

4. A combination dispenser and cutting device for tape in spirallyrolled form adapted to be removably firmly mounted, on a body-encirclingbelt for one-handed operation by a wearer of the belt, comprising: abifurcated substantially U-shaped holder means including a first sidemember, a second side member substantially parallel to and laterallyspaced from said first side member and an interconnecting memberconnecting adjacent the upper ends of said first and second sidemembers, said holder means having laterally spaced lower ends each ofwhich is provided with a transversely oppositely directed opposedspindle means adapted to receive and rotatively carry therearound acentrally apertured core of a spirally wound roll of tape whereby torotatively mount said roll of tape for rotation around said spindlemeans, each of said laterally spaced side members of said holder meansincluding extension portions effectively extendably engaged and slidablyretained for limited longitudinal extension and retraction with respectthereto whereby to receive between said laterally spaced side members aspirally wound roll of tape of any desired size within the range ofextension and retraction of said holder means; said interconnectingmember being provided with an armately spaced serrated multi-toothe'dsevering blade means positioned exteriorly peripherally adjacent to anouter layer of the spirally wound tape carried by the centrally r Japertured core for exterior severing engagement therewith as a selectedlength of said tape is pulled outwardly away from the remainder of thespirally wound roll of tape against said severing blade means; saidholder means being provided with mounting and fastening means forremovably and securely fastening it to a body-encircling belt adapted tobe worn by a user of the combination tape dispenser and cutting devicein a position for onehanded tape dispensing and cutting operationthereof.

5. A device of the character defined in claim 4, wherein said extensionportions and the slidably engaged adjacent cooperating portions of saidlaterally spaced side members include parts defining at least one pairof longitudinal slots having at least one longitudinal slot on each sideof the holder means, with the portion slidably engaged therewith beingprovided with a corresponding retaining pin slidable in saidlongitudinal slot whereby to provide for limited longitudinal slidableextension and retraction of said extension portions of said holdermeans.

6. A device of the character defined in claim 4, including operablelocking means for locking the holder means in any selected extended orretracted position.

7. A device of the character defined in claim 4, including operablethreaded locking means for locking at least one of the side members ofthe holder means in any selected extended or retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,469,247 Smith May 3, 1949 2,470,250 Kienle May 17, 1949 2,777,594Krueger Jan. 15, 1957 2,963,208 Yates et al. Dec. 6, 1960 2,978,155Knutson Apr. 4, 1961

1. A COMBINATION DISPENSER AND CUTTING DEVICE FOR TAPE IN SPIRALLYROLLED FORM ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY AND FIRMLY MOUNTED ON ABODY-ENGAGEABLE MEMBER FOR ONEHANDED OPERATION BY A WEARER THEREOF,COMPRISING: A BIFURCATED SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED HOLDER MEANS INCLUDING AFIRST SIDE MEMBER, A SECOND SIDE MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ANDLATERALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST SIDE MEMBER AND AN INTERCONNECTINGMEANS CONNECTING THE ADJACENT UPPER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDEMEMBERS, SAID HOLDER MEANS HAVING LATERALLY SPACED LOWER ENDS AT LEASTONE OF WHICH IS PROVIDED WITH SPINDLE MEANS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ANDROTATIVELY CARRY THEREAROUND A CENTRALLY APERTURED CORE OF A SPIRALLYWOUND ROLL OF TAPE, SAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITHSEVERING BLADE MEANS POSITIONED EXTERIORLY PERIPHERALLY ADJACENT TO ANOUTER LAYER OF THE SPIRALLY WOUND TAPE CARRIED BY THE CENTRALLYAPERTURED CORE FOR EXTERIOR SEVERING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AS A SELECTEDLENGTH OF SAID TAPE IS PULLED OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE REMAINDER OF THESPIRALLY WOUND ROLL OF TAPE AGAINST SAID SEVERING BLADE MEANS; SAIDHOLDER MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH MOUNTING AND FASTENING MEANS FORRIGIDLY FASTENING IT TO A BODY-ENGAGEABLE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE WORN BY AUSER OF THE COMBINATION TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTING DEVICE IN A POSITIONFOR ONE-HANDED TAPE DISPENSING AND CUTTING OPERATION THEREOF; SAIDHOLDER MEANS BEING EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE WHEREBY TO RECEIVE BETWEENSAID LATERALLY SPACED SIDE MEMBERS SAID SPIRALLY WOULD ROLL OF TAPEWHICH MAY BE OF VARIOUS DESIRED SIZE WITHIN THE RANGE OF EXTENSION ANDRETRACTION OF SAID HOLDER MEANS.